The room inside one of the Keep’s tower was damn impressive. Though circular, it can definitely fit up to ten persons while leaving enough space for a long table. But being six floors high from the Witch Hunter’s Keep made it exhausting even though the stone stairs were spiral.

Inside the room were three double-deck beds, none of which were comfortable enough to sleep. It might look pleasing at first since there’s a clean cloth covering everything, but underneath it was wheat hays, which made it feel like sleeping in a barn.

Lina’s face was completely transparent, her eye twitching as she took a step back the moment she saw the room. Lisa seemed like she didn’t mind, as she walked up to an arched window felt the wind drag her hair. The wind must’ve been refreshing.

“Ugh,” Lina rolled her eyes to the side. “This is a bit… compared to…”

“This’ll do,” Laurence said, his disgusted face disagreeing. “I mean, unlike our Villa…”

Eric sighed. “Don’t complain. So? Where’s Amy?”

I’m here, a familiar voice said. She seemed dejected, but relieved somehow. Sorry about earlier, I’ll try to be as brief as possible.

“Where have you been?” Lisa asked impatiently.

Basically, I’m the masked woman who made a deal with the witch hunters, she paused. I thought it would be great if I could somehow help you and provide shelter. But as you all know, rules are rules; I can’t help you directly even if I wanted to.

Her voice livened up as she continued. But promise, I'll tell you everything I know once you sleep. You'll automatically log-out and your body will be replaced by a self-defense AI, to avoid getting raped or assaulted, of course.

Aaron couldn't help but feel the same way as Lisa. He also wanted to know how everyone felt and hear their first impressions after entering the game. In the end, Amy didn't answer their questions afterward, only reassured them that everything will be fine. Eric, naturally, repeatedly tapped his foot and bit his nails out of boiling annoyance, but he knew that he had to wait too.

Half an hour had passed and things calmed down. Lina was the first one to sleep as her body left an afterglow. Laurence and Lisa then came next, leaving only Eric and Aaron.

“Can’t sleep?” Aaron asked Eric right above him. They were in a double-deck after all.

“Check your stats before we leave. Might find something useful so we can ask her about its details tomorrow.”

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Everything was planned as always. Aaron nodded, checking his Status Tab. Strange, a white transparent screen popping out of nowhere could suddenly change the atmosphere. Everything that happened till now might be a game, but it was realistic. Too realistic that he can feel leg cramps and aching muscles. If the LINK Company’s aim was to limit the realism to reduce the pain, then they still have a long way to go.

The status tab demonstrated Aaron's stature in a 3d hologram while pointing out where his muscles ache and strands were ripped apart. He checked his skills and was given a even though he wasn't using a sword at all. An axe might count as a weapon, but it wasn’t something that can be considered a sword as well. Maybe it was because of how he swings it? Thinking about it, Aaron had been swinging his axe like a sword.

That theory aside, he checked his current health. Right beside his avatar was a red health bar and stamina bar, as well as buff and debuff effects and various other effect, lists too. It had gone from something as simple as to .

His level on the other hand, was nothing special. It was at level 01 with 52 out of 200 exp. before leveling up, but thinking about it from a game developer’s perspective, then the exp. or experience literally meant experience, as in a number of times he had battle encounters or even conversations, then it would mean that real life hobbies might apply in-game.

Theorizing the level system, it could only mean that if a master swordsman were to dive into the game, then he would naturally be level 01. But if he continues to prove his skill, then the level difference would be vast since he had gotten used to using a sword in real life.

Overall, there were no problems, but he had theories Amy might able to prove right or wrong. Whether his strength, agility, intelligence and other stats are based on real life interactions. After all, there was nothing that said he could upgrade his stats and even if it was possible, it would break the system. Even imagining a guy that increased his intelligence to the max would be downright easier than it should be.

Aaron shut his eyes while thinking more about the level experience and abilities. In the first minutes, his headache and he could feel it, so he changed it to something more positive instead. Being a witch hunter, living a life different than the real world and even meeting new people. If this game were to go online, he might even meet a woman and get married, eventually living a normal life.

It didn't take long before a blinding light struck Aaron's body like lightning, making him gasp for breath the moment he opened his eyes. His body was all wet as if being underwater for too long. It was dark and all he could hear was water splashing and feel his body wearing a tight suit.

The water was decreasing and sparks that electrified his body was dissipating. After breathing several times, the capsule lid unfolded by itself, blinding Aaron once again. He shielded the light with his hand, and realized that after a short while, a ceiling emerged. It was always there – white, bright and full of lights that couldn’t make a man sleep even if they were to shut off the lights.

Aaron slowly got off from the capsule and a girl, wearing something like a nurse clothes, helped him get up. She casually aided him to a seat on the wheelchair. He doesn't feel the need for it, but he felt his leg cramp. He felt his muscles ache and strands of it ripped itself apart.

“Please don’t move too much.” said the nurse, wearing a pure white uniform and a hat with LINK’s logo engraved on it. She had a ponytail and polite steps as her fragile body carefully helped Aaron sit on the wheelchair.

“Why do I…” Aaron stopped. His voice was ragged; his throat was dry.

“It was a side effect from using the capsule,” she said calmly. “It was also the reason why it couldn’t be made public because of too many conflicts between codes and interactions with the brain.”

“That makes… sense,” Aaron tried to find the words. “If I can’t tell reality from illusion… then it would only be natural to feel… this way, right?”

Her smile widened even more. “Exactly, since the brain was tricked into thinking that the virtual world is real, the pain too, was transmitted. I heard that this capsule lessens reality and gathers intel, but to think it would be this drastic after only a couple of hours…”

“Then I guess we still… have a long way to go.”

The nurse chuckled. “Yes, you’re right.”